Chiropractic is a drug free, manual approach to health care including assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractic deals not only with musculoskeletal complaints, but also addresses the complex interaction between your nervous system and your spine. Chiropractic is one of the largest primary-contact health care professions in Canada. Approximately 4 1/2 million Canadians use chiropractic each year. Chiropractic is a regulated health profession recognized by statute in all Canadian provinces and chiropractors (along with medical doctors, dentists, psychologists and optometrists) have the legislated right to communicate a diagnosis and use the title doctor.

Chiropractors undergo extensive training in order to enter the profession. Chiropractors have a minimum of a 4 year undergraduate degree and have completed 4 years of rigorous postgraduate education in the Doctor of Chiropractic program. Chiropractors undergo both written and practical board examinations prior to licensure in Canada. The Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto is a world renowned college for Chiropractic study.

Starting from your first contact whether by phone, e-mail or drop in, you will experience a friendly relaxing atmosphere. Upon entering our facility, you will be given general information and health history forms to fill out. Our Chiropractic Health Assistant will answer any of your preliminary questions. Your chiropractor will obtain a thorough history and perform the necessary examination. If you require x-rays, they will be completed prior to treatment and your chiropractic care will commence on your next visit. Before any treatment begins, the doctor will discuss with you her findings and answer any of your questions at the DOCTOR’S REPORT. Every effort will be made to make your first visit a positive one.

Chiropractic care has been proven to be very effective in multiple studies when compared to NSAIDS, medical interventions and physiotherapy for spinal related conditions including low back pain, headaches and neck pain. Although many medical health treatments carry risk, chiropractic is a very safe form of health care. Chiropractic side effects are minimal usually limited to tight and sore muscles.

Chiropractic care is covered under most insurance benefit plans. At North Ridge Family Chiropractic, we will assist you with providing you all the information you will need in order to obtain your reimbursed benefits. Your total cost of chiropractic will depend on your condition, goals and type of care you are looking for. Please don’t hesitate to ask us any questions you may have regarding the cost of your care. Your health is very important to us.

An adjustment is a gentle maneuver performed by a chiropractor to affected joints in the body primarily the spine. It is the primary form of care in a chiropractic office. The chiropractor uses her hands to restore proper movement to the spinal joints thus allowing joints to move freely, muscles to relax and nerves to send their messages properly. There are many different techniques used to adjust your spine. In conjunction with you, she will choose the method of adjustment that is the most comfortable for you and one that minimizes any discomfort. Chiropractic adjustments are very relieving and often feel great.

Yes! Chiropractic is one of the safest forms of health care. It is important that you have qualified professional care for your child’s spine. Dr. Julie has a special interest in pediatric care and adjusts hundreds of children and their families.  She will thoroughly explain the safety of your child’s care with you prior to any adjustments.

A properly performed adjustment rarely causes any discomfort whatsoever. Depending on the extent of any problems however, some of the structures around your child’s spine may be sore. In fact most children and infants smile, laugh and enjoy their adjustments.

At North Ridge Family Chiropractic, our chiropractic health assistant will provide you with the initial history intake forms for your child. Your chiropractor will go over your child’s health history with you and examine your child’s posture, nervous system and spinal structures. After your chiropractor has completed her exam, she will fully explain any findings with you, discuss chiropractic care options and answer all of your questions at the DOCTOR’S REPORT.

Chiropractic doesn’t ‘cure’ anything!  What chiropractic does, is release any nervous system interference so that your brain can communicate clearly to your body.  Your body then does the healing on it’s own and certainly has the capabilities of eliminating ear infections and colic as well as having an effect on decreasing the symptoms of asthma. Chiropractic itself does not cure these conditions, rather by working with the spine and clearing out any interference to the nervous system, the immune system of the child’s body is able to fight off infection easier. Many parents have seen the benefits chiropractic care can have on their child’s immune system, especially in regards to quicker resolution of symptoms, less frequent colds/flu and less sick days from school.

If your child or adolescent has scoliosis, it is wise to seek chiropractic care. Scoliosis puts abnormal stress in your child’s spine and chiropractic can help to correct these pressures and ensure your child’s spine and nervous system are functioning to the best of their ability. Chiropractors are experts in the condition of scoliosis and Dr. Julie has unique training in this area.

Absolutely! Many parents decide to have their child’s spine checked even if they do not have symptoms. Abnormal spinal joints can lead to improper posture, scoliosis, weak muscles and a compromised nervous system. Often parents are unaware that there may be underlying problems in their child’s spine. This is the basis of chiropractic preventative wellness care or spinal “brushing your teeth”.

Yes! Chiropractic is safe for your baby. There is no research showing that chiropractic puts your baby at risk in any way. Due to the hormones released during pregnancy, a woman’s body responds very readily to chiropractic adjustments and adjustments are performed more gently during this phase. Most women find their chiropractic experience during pregnancy very relaxing.

At North Ridge Family Chiropractic we have specialized tools designed for the pregnant woman in mind that allow her to lie on her stomach without any pressures. Both tables that “breakaway” in the belly region and pregnancy pillows with cut outs for your belly are used for your comfort.

Pregnancy puts a lot of stress on the structures of the spine, low back and pelvis. During pregnancy you have hormones released in your body that loosen the ligaments in your pelvis creating a strain on the structures around the low back. In the third trimester, the weight of the growing baby and extra body fluids puts increased pressure on the discs and joints of the lower back. Chiropractic care can alleviate this discomfort during pregnancy.

Chiropractors do not turn breech babies, however; Dr. Julie is qualified in a technique called the Webster technique . This technique is a specific and gentle pelvic adjustment which creates more space within the pelvic ring and relaxes ligaments attached to the uterus. By creating this new environment, the breech baby is then able to turn down into the proper position.

Many women report easier and shorter labours under chiropractic care. A properly aligned pelvis, balanced ligaments and a lack of interference of the nerves supplying the uterus are all contributing factors to an easier and faster labour and birth.